Chronic Kidney Disease

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) means your kidneys are gradually losing their ability to filter waste products from your blood and perform other important functions, like balancing fluids and producing hormones. Unlike sudden kidney failure, CKD develops slowly, often over many months or years. When your kidneys aren't working well, waste and excess fluid can build up in your body, leading to various health problems. The most common causes of CKD are long-term conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure, which can damage the tiny filtering units in your kidneys over time. Other causes include kidney diseases like glomerulonephritis or polycystic kidney disease, recurrent kidney infections, and certain medications used long-term. Understanding the underlying cause is important for guiding your treatment plan. In its early stages, CKD often has no noticeable symptoms because your kidneys can still function adequately. This is why regular lab tests are so critical, especially if you have risk factors like diabetes or high blood pressure. Tests such as blood creatinine (used to estimate your Glomerular Filtration Rate or eGFR) and urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) help your doctor assess your kidney function, diagnose CKD, determine its stage, and monitor its progression. Early detection through these tests allows for timely interventions to slow down kidney damage and manage potential complications.